Voice coach David Grant aims to use musical skills to help young people

Voice coach David Grant aims to use musical skills to help young people

Grant was awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales for services to music.

David Grant wears his MBE following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace (John Stillwell/PA)

Voice coach to the stars David Grant has said he wants to use his musical skills to help “disenfranchised” young people.

Grant was awarded an MBE by the Prince of Wales for services to music and said he chatted with Charles about working with his Prince’s Trust.

The former lead singer with 80s soul group Lynx added that as his children had disabilities he and wife Carrie Grant were also “exploring” getting involved with disabilities education.

“But I also want to use music for people who are disenfranchised,” added the performer who has been a vocal coach on talent shows Pop Idol and Fame Academy.

Grant, who with his wife has voice coached The Spice Girls, Take That, Gwyneth Paltrow and Will Young, said: “T​here’s a lot of talk about knife crime, there is a lot of talk about young people that’s quite negative.

David Grant, wearing his MBE, stands with his wife Carrie and their daughters Olive (second left) and Talia (John Stillwell/PA)

“It always has been, it’s like every generation forgets they were young once and speaks as negatively about today’s young people as we were spoken about when we were young.

“But actually to give them skills, to try and discover and develop people’s talents and to give them belief in their talents, and in my case through music because that’s my field, it’s something that makes a difference.”

Conservative former minister Gary Streeter – the MP for South West Devon – was dubbed a knight by the prince for political and public service during the Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony.

Speaking about the Brexit crisis, he remained optimistic: “We are trying to do something that’s never been done in history before with a divided nation, divided parliament, divided parties – it’s mission almost impossible.

“Having said that, I do think in the next two weeks, there’s only one show in town, that’s to get the withdrawal agreement approved, there is no other way forward.

“It will come back a third time and possibly even a fourth time, it will get over the line I’m pretty confident because the alternatives are bleak.”

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Former footballer and manager Leroy Rosenior, now vice-president of Show Racism The Red Card, was awarded an MBE for tackling discrimination in society.

Asked if the country was getting better at tackling racism, he replied: “We are moving forward because people are starting to recognise it because more people are talking about it.

“There are more black faces and faces of colour in places of authority who are putting it at the top of their agenda.

“We’ve still got a long way to go but when something happens it’s been highlighted, it’s been dealt with better, there still needs to be zero tolerance – they’re still tippy-toeing around it for my liking.

“I think once we deal with it once and for all, you’ll find it starts to eradicate.”